Driving while taking medication in Sweden (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: In Sweden, driving with a narcotic substance in the blood is not an offence if it was taken as ordered by a doctor or other authorised prescriber.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Warning labels on medicinesMedication | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Defence for prescribed medicinesMedication | Driving with a narcotic substance in the blood is not an offence if the narcotic was taken as ordered by a doctor or other authorised prescriber. [1] |
| Legal rule on medicines and drivingMedication | It is rattfylleri (drink or drug driving) to drive a motor vehicle after taking a narcotic substance if any narcotic substance remains in the blood, unless it was taken as prescribed. It is also rattfylleri to drive when so affected by alcohol or another substance ("något annat medel") that the driver cannot be assumed to drive safely. [1] |
| PenaltyMedication | Rattfylleri carries a fine or up to six months in prison. If the offence is grovt (gross), the penalty is up to two years in prison; this includes being considerably affected by alcohol or another substance, or endangering road safety. The vehicle may also be forfeited. [1] |
| Who judges fitness to driveMedication | The Swedish Transport Agency states that, under the traffic offences law, the driver is responsible for finding out how a medicine affects driving and for judging whether it makes them a worse driver. The doctor must give information, and the pharmacy is responsible for informing about risks. After an accident or a police check, a driver affected by medicine can be convicted of rattfylleri. [2] |
Notes
- Not checked: the source read does not state this.
- The defence is written for narcotics taken as ordered by a doctor or other authorised prescriber. It does not state a defence for other medicines.
Sources
- Sveriges riksdag: Trafikbrottslag (1951:649) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Transportstyrelsen: Trafikfarliga läkemedel (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.